Yieldable extension member



Patented Sept. 7, 1926. i

tlhllTEl) STATES i 1,528,74et

PATENT JAMES E. POTTER, OF FROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO A. @t Z CHAIN CO., E PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHUDE ISLAND.

YIELDABLE EXTENSION MEMBER.

Application led March 4, 1924.

This invention relates to improvements in extendible members for bracelets and the like; and has for its object to provide an extendible member of this character having a body portion with a spring-pressed, normally-contracted sliding member mounted therein, both said body and said member having means by which they maybe attached to opposite ends of a bracelet whereby the bracelet is adapted to be extended or yieldably enlarged or elongated as desired.

`With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described1 and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation showing my improved extendible member as connected to a watch bracelet.

Figure 2 is a detail showing a perspective view of the body member of the device.

Figure 3 is a detail showing a perspective view of the extendible or slidable member of the device.

Figure e is a perspective view showing the back plate and end plate of the body member.

Figure 5 is an enlarged section on line 5 5 of Figure 6 showing the edges of the side walls as rolled over the back plate to loclr the same in the body.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of the body member and the slide member mounted therein, the two being somewhat extended relatively.

Figure 7 is aperspective view showing a portion of the back plate broken away and the slide member partially extended.

It is found in practice of advantage to provide an extendible member for bracelets such as a wrist watch, bracelet, and the like in which ribbon or strips of flexible but nonextendible material may be employed for the purpose of rendering such a bracelet extendible to some extent whereby it may be elongated or enlarged to slip over the hand of the wearer or to adjust itself and cling to the wrist as desired; and the following is a detailed description of my improved construction of extendible member by which these advantageous results may be obtained.

llVith reference to the drawings, 10 designates the body portion of my improved eX- Seral No. 696,913.

tendible member which is preferably formed of sheet stock having a front plate 11 and two side walls 12 also a one end tongue member 13 is formed which may be bent up into loop shape to connect the body to the next adjacentelement of the bracelet.

Fitted to slide between the side walls 12 of this body member 'is the slide member 14 which is provided with a back plate or wall 15, side walls 16 and an end wall 17 Connected to the back plate on the end opposite the end wall 17 is an extending tongue 18 adapted to be rolled or folded up into an eye-form to be connected to the next adjacent element of the chain or bracelet.

In order to secure the slide member 111 in the body member and in slidable relation therewith7 I have provided a back plate 19 which is secured between the side walls 12 of thebody by rolling the edges 2O of these walls over those of the back plate. This baclr plate is provided with an integral, inwardly-extending end wall 21 Vwhich is cut away at its edges 22 to permit the passage of the side walls 16 of the slide member 14V.

In assembling these parts I first insert the slide member 14e into the body member 10 and then position a coiled spring 23 so that one end will abut against the end wall 17 "i of the slide memberand its opposite end will abut against the end wall 21 of the baclr plate which is then inserted. This baclr plate is then secured in position by rolling the edges thereover and the device is completed.

In applying this complete device to a bracelet it is only necessary to provide loop or bail members 24 and 13 in opposite ends of the bracelet and connect them to the eye members 13 and 18 of my improved device which will permit an extendible or flexible action to an otherwise non-extendible bracelet.

The foregoing description is directed solesubstantially rectangular box like body havm ing front, back yand side walls and one end wall, al sheet metal slide in Said bodyeX- tending out through said end wall, an abutment on that portion of said slide within said body, a. spring acting between said abutment'and end wall to draw said slide withinsaid body, and means for attaching said slide and body to opposite portions of a bracelet. Y Y

2. An extendible member for a bracelet comprising ya sheet metal trough-'shaped member, aback plate attached thereto orming a hollow body, an end wall on said back plate extending" into said trough, a sldable member lextending from said trough-shaped member 4and having an end .wall, yadttaehing means Carried by each of Vsaid members for engaging portions of a bracelet, and a spring acting between said end walls to draw said attaching means toward Yeach other for contracting the bracelet.

3. An eXtendible unit fora bracket comprising a sheet-metal trough-shaped membera baclrrplatesecnred thereto by rolling t-he edges lot the side A-wa'lls'of said member '-thereoyer, anend wall on said back plate Vdrawxsaid ,tongues toward each other for .contracting the bracelet.

`In testimony whereof I Vafiix my.. signature.

.nl JAMES e POTTER. 

